- Britain's security services thwarted a September 11-style
attack on targets including Canary Wharf and Heathrow Airport, according
to reports.
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- The plot is said to have involved pilots being trained
to fly into target buildings including London's famous financial centre
and the world's busiest airport.
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- It is one of four or five al-Qaeda planned attacks, since
9/11, that have come to nothing, after the authorities intervened, reports
claim.
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- The disclosure comes as the Government prepares to unveil
a series of tough law-and-order Bills in tomorrow's Queen's Speech, setting
out the legislative programme for what is expected to be the final session
of the current Parliament.
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- The speech will contain Bills designed to protect the
UK against al-Qaeda attacks as well as plans for a crackdown on major organised
crime and petty offences which ruin people's lives.
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- Chief among the measures announced will be a move towards
introducing ID cards and steps to create a nationwide serious crime agency
dubbed the British equivalent of the FBI.
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- Civil liberties campaigners have expressed alarm at plans
by Home Secretary David Blunkett for the sweeping anti-terror laws should
Labour win the next General Election.
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- Mr Blunkett revealed a raft of measures at the weekend
- from jury-less anti-terror courts to allowing wire-tap evidence in major
trials - which could be implemented if Labour was re-elected.
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- He acknowledged that his anti-terror proposals will raise
civil liberties concerns, but insisted that the Government was acting "proportionately"
to protect the public from the threat of an al-Qaeda attack.
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- "We will have to take whatever steps are necessary,
particularly in terms of security and intelligence, because it's no good
picking the pieces up - literally - afterwards," he said.
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- Under his plans, civil orders could be issued against
individuals suspected of planning terrorist acts, restricting their movements
and precluding such activities such as using the internet or particular
banking networks.
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- Mr Blunkett's comments came after Metropolitan Police
Commissioner Sir John Stevens spoke of his frustration at not being able
to talk about anti-terror successes.
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- And MI5 chief Eliza Manningham-Buller also spoke publicly
about Britain's success in thwarting fanatics.
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- Mr Blunkett said he would have to await the outcome of
an appeal in the House of Lords against existing anti-terrorism powers
to detain foreign suspects without trial, before bringing forward new measures.
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- In a separate move, he said that he is also considering
allowing wire tap evidence in court cases - including serious criminal
trials as well as for terrorism charges.
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- In the past the measure has been opposed by the security
services, who fear that they could be forced to disclose secret operations
in court, and Mr Blunkett admits that there are still problems to be overcome.
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- http://www.itv.com/news/index_808807.html
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